Method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins



April 16, 1957 r G. J. FRANCAR 2,738,813

METHOD OF RECQNSTRUCTING SALVABLE BOWLING PINS Filed Oct. 6, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO R.

F/s. v F7513 ms BY- W HTTO/PNEY April 16, 1957 G. J. FRANCAR METHOD OF RECONSTRUCTING SALVABLE BOWLING PINS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 6, 1954 INVENTOR.

GOPOO/VJ F/P/iNffl/P F) T TO/P/VE Y April 16, 1957 G. J. FRANCAR METHOD OF RECONSTRUCTING SALVABLE BOWLING PINS Filed Oct. 6, '1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG I; IN VEN TOR.

GORDON J FPH/Vrfi/P BY United States Patent IVIETHOD OF RECONSTRUCTiNG SALVABLE. BOWLING PINS Gordon J. Francar, Green Bay, Wis.

Application October 6, 1954, Serial No. 460,735

4 Claims. (Cl. 144-309) This invention relates generally to bowling pins, and more particularly to a bowling pin and a new and novel method of salvaging and reconstructing salvable bowling pins.

It is known to be old in the art to increase the lateral bulk of damaged bowling pins, preparatory to their reconstruction, by the dividing and slab insert process. While this process provides an increased pin girth it does not provide an increased length. As a result, many pins having damaged bottoms must be discarded because of the non-feasibility of providing bulk increasing slabs of suflicient thickness to allow for the reconstruction of the damaged bottom portions of said pins. Adding to the length of the damaged pins allows the use of substantially thinner slabs, and provides end material allowing for the forming of a reconstructed standard pin located slightly axially of the profile of the expanded pin, thereby permitting the damaged bottom end portions of the original pin to be wholly removed.

The purpose of this invention is to increase the bulk of a damaged bowling pin, longitudinally as well as laterally, the longitudinal increase being augmented by a wooden plug insert projecting axially from the head end of the pin, the extended length at the head end providing added material from which a portion of a new head can be cut to compensate lengthwise for the removal of the damaged bottom end portion of the pin, whereby, after the surplus of said expanded pin has been cut away and trimmed down in a lathe there results a pin of size and shape corresponding to a new standard bowling pin having a sharp wooden bottom edge.

Obviously, the bottom end of a bowling pin can be similarly processed, with the use of a projecting wooden plug insert disposed axially therein, the extended length at said bottom end providing added material from which a portion of a new bottom can be cut to compensate lengthwise for the removal of a damaged head end portion of the pin.

A salvable bowling pin is a used or damaged bowling pin, or the like, Whose surface has become dented, cracked, chipped, splintered or otherwise damaged; or a new or used bowling pin or unfinished bowling pin that is overweight; or a defective new bowling pin that is rejectable because of the presence therein of knots, cracks, cavities, bad surfaces, or is otherwise imperfectly formed, or the \like.

An object of this invention is the provision of a method for renewing, repairing and reconstructing salvable bowling pins which utilizes discarded pins, as the major source of material.

Another object is to provide a novel method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins cheaply and quickly.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins that conserves the select hard maple wood of said pins that would otherwise be wasted.

Yet another object of this invention is the provisio of a new and novel method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins, wherein the bulk of said pins is increased longitudinally as well as laterally, preparatory to their reconstruction.

A further object is to provide a new and novel method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins, wherein the lengthwise bulk of said pins is increased by the use of a wooden plug insert disposed substantially axially in the head end of said pins.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins, wherein the lengthwise bulk of said pins is increased by the use of a wooden plug "insert disposed substantially axially in the bottom end of said pins.

Yet a further object is to provide a new and novel method wherein selected useable portions of a plurality of salvable bowling pins are united in the formation of a single reconstructed pin.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins, which are overweight by compensating for the overweight by the use of wood slabs of less density than the salvable pin.

Still another object is to provide a laminated bowling pin, including a plug insert in either end thereof, from which portions of an end of the bowling pin can be formed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a laminated bowling pin having laminations of different densities.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation view of a bowling pin to be salvaged, showing an axial cylindrical recess formed in the head end thereof adapted to receive a projecting wooden P Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the salvable bowling pin in Fig. 1, showing a wooden plug insert projecting axially from the head end thereof;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the salvable bowling pin in Fig. 3, showing bowling pin and plug initially bisected along the longitudinal axis thereof, the symmetric half segments being disposed in spaced relation;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevation view of the salvable bowling pin in Fig. 5, showing the symmetric half segments thereof oppositely disposed and cemented on opposite faces of an intervening wood slab, forming a partially laterally ex panded rough pin unit;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevation view of the salvable bowling pin in Fig. 7, showing the initially expanded rough pin unit longitudinally bisected along a plane at right angle to the initial bisecting plane, the symmetric half segments being disposed in spaced relation;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the salvable pin in Fig. 9 rotated to better illustrate the associated method steps;

Fig. 11 is an elevation view of the salvable bowling pin in Fig. 9, showing the symmetric half segments thereof oppositely disposed and cemented on opposite faces of an intervening wood slab, forming a fully laterally expanded rough pin structure;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an elevation view of the salvable pin in Fig. 11, showing in dotted lines the fully expanded rough bowling pin structure, expanded laterally, and additionally longitudinally at the head end, and showing in solid lines the finished reconstructed pin formed from the expanded pin structure, located slightly axially of the profile of expanded pin, toward the head end thereof;

Fig. 14 illustrates a modified application of the method showing in dotted lines an elevation view of afully expanded .pin structure, expanded laterally, and additionally longitudinally at the bottom end, and showing in solid lines the finished reconstructed pin formed from the expanded pin structure, located slightly axially of the profile of the expanded pin, toward the bot-tom end thereof;

Fig. 15 is an elevation view illustrating an alternative method, showing the final fully laterally expanded rough pin structure provided with an axial bore and projecting plug insert therein accomplished as a final step in the reconstructing process, in lieu of the salvable bowling pin being initially bored and provided with a plug insert therein, as the initial step of the process; and

Fig. 16 is a plan view of Fig. 14.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a salvable bowling pin 21. Said bowling pin is provided with an axial cylindrical recess 22 bored in the head end thereof. A snugly fitting wooden plug 23, completely filling the recess, is cemented in the recess, a portion of the plug projecting from the recess and above the head of the pin. The plug should be of a substantial diameter so that after the pin is fully expanded, as hereinafter described, the rounded top end portion of the reconstructed pin can be partially formed therefrom. The plug should preferably be of the same wood as the salvable bowling pin.

The above bowling pin and plug insert combination is then longitudinally bisected, as by sawing, into two symmetric half segments 23 and 24, and the two out faces of said segments are made smooth, if necessary, in any suitable manner, as with sandpaper or equivalent means.

It is preferred that this first dividing out be made parallel or at right angle to the fiat grain of the pin, thereby providing a maximum of edge grain in the finished pin, due to the slab inserts to be hereinafter described.

After said faces havebeen appropriately smoothed, they are coated with a glue or cement, and oppositely disposed on opposite faces of an intervening wood slab 26, and the half segments held pressed thereto until the glue or cement has dried and the segments 24 and 25, and the slab 26, firmly united into a partially laterally expanded rought pin unit, as shown in Fig. 7. The wood slab should preferably be of the same wood "as the salvable bowling pin; and should be of a length and Width at least as great as the corresponding dimensions of the salvable bowling pin. The segments should preferably be centered on said slab.

Said rough unit is again longitudinally bisected along a plane at right angle to the initial bisecting plane, forming symmetric half segments 27 and 28. The newly cut faces are appropriately smoothed, if necessary, and then coated'with glue or cement, and oppositely disposed on opposite faces of a second intervening wood slab 29, and held pressed thereto until the cement has dried and the segments 27 and 28, and the slab 29, firmly united into a fully laterally expanded rought pin structure, as shown in Fig. 11. The second wood slab should likewise preferably be of the same wood as the salvable bowling pin; and should be of a length at least as great as the salvable pin, and of a width approximately as great as the expanded width ofsaid unit. The segments should preferably be centered on said second slab.

The over-all bulk and circumference of the fully expanded structure is now greater than a standard pin, so that when said structure is trimmed to proper size, the

. away.

damaged surfaces of the original pin will be trimmed Alternatively, in lieu of the bowling pin being initially bored and plug inserted therein, as mentioned in the initial steps above described, the final fully expanded rough pin structure can be axially bored and plug inserted therein, as the final step in the forming of the structure.

In trimming, those portions of-the wood slabs projecting beyond the outline of the pin segments are first removed, preferably with a band saw.

The resulting wood body, which is still substantially larger in bulk than a standard bowling pin, though roughly the same shape, is mounted in a lathe with the spindle points substantially on the longitudinal axis of said wood body. Said body is trimmed down gradually, with the use of suitable lathe cutting tools, to the size and shape of a standard bowling pin. :In said lathe trimming process, the profile of the reconstructed pin is not formed parallel to the profile of the original pin segments, that is, corresponding points on the profiles are not to be on the same radius. The profile of the reconstructed pin is displaced and located slightly axially of the profile of the original pin segments, toward the head end thereof, so that the rounded top portion of the reconstructed pin is formed from portions ofthe plug insert and wood slabs, thereby permitting damaged bottom end portions of the original pin segments to be wholly and'feasibly removed, with a minimum'thickness of wood slabs.

In Fig. 13 the dotted lines 31 show the profile of the expanded original pin segments, and the solid line 32 shows the profile of the reconstructed pin shifted axially so that the rounded top portion 33 of the reconstructed pin is formed from the projecting slab and plug portions 34, thereby permitting the damaged bottom'end portions 35 of the original pin segments to be wholly re- "moved. r

Fig. 14 shows the application of the hereir'ibe fore de; scribed method modified to provide for the insertion of a plug insert in the bottom end, in lieu of the top end. 7

insert is received in a recess in the bottom end of the bowling pin, instead of in the head end thereof, and the body of the pin is trimmed down so that the profile of the reconstructed pin is displaced or located slightly axially of the profile of the original pin segments, toward the bottom end thereof, so that the bottom portionof the reconstructed pin is formed from portions of the plug insert and wood slabs, thereby permitting damaged top end portions of the original pin segment-s to be bodily and feasibly removed.

In Fig. 14 the dotted lines 36 show the profile of'the expanded original pin segments, and the solid line 37 shows the profile of the reconstructed pin shifted axially so that the bottom portion 38 of the reconstructed pin is formed from the projecting slab and plug portions 39, thereby permitting the damaged top end portions 41 of the original pin segments to be bodily removed.

Obviously, in lieu of using all thesegments of one salvable pin to form a single reconstructed pin, useable selected portions of a plurality of salvable bowling ,pins,

can be united in the formation of a single reconstructed pin. This is advisable where some of the segments must be discarded because of the presence therein of major fore, the final fully laterally expanded rough pin structure is bored and provided with a plug insert therein as a final step in the expanding process.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of salvaging and reconstructing salvable bowling pins whereby the bulk of such salvable pins is increased longitudinally as well as laterally to provide added material from which end portions of a reconstructed pin can be formed.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method of reconstructing a salvable bowling pin, comprising the steps of: recessing an end of a salvable bowling pin substantially axially thereof; affixing a projecting plug in said recess for extending the length of said bowling pin; dividing the resulting combination substantially along the longitudinal axis of the bowling pin into two segments; securing said segments, substantially oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of slab means to form a partially laterally expanded rough pin unit; dividing said unit longitudinally, along a plane substantially at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two segments; securing said last mentioned segments, substantially oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of second slab means to form a fully laterally expanded rough pin structure; and trimming away excess outer portions of said structure to form a reconstructed bowling pin of standard size and shape, said trimming locating said reconstructed pin, in said structure, axially of the salvable pin segments, thereby embodying a portion of said plug and slabs in an end of said reconstructed pin.

2. A method of reconstructing a salvable bowling pin, comprising the steps of: boring a recess in an end of a salvable bowling pin, axially thereof; cementing a snugly fitting Wood plug in said recess, the plug projecting beyond said bowling pin; dividing the resulting combination along the longitudinal axis of the bowling pin into two half segments; cementing said half segments, oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of wood slab means to form a partially laterally expanded rough pin unit; dividing said unit along the longitudinal axis of the unit, on a plane at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two half segments; cementing said last mentioned half segments, oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of second wood slab means to form a fully laterally expanded rough pin structure; and trimming away excess outer portions of said structure to form a reconstructed bowling pin of standard size and shape, said trimming being conducted to incorporate a portion of said plug and slabs into said reconstructed pin.

3. A method of reconstructing a salva'ble bowling pin, comprising the steps of: boring a recess in an end of a salvable "bowling pin, axially thereof; cementing a snugly fitting wood plug in said recess, the plug projecting beyond said bowling pin; dividing the resulting combination along the longitudinal axis of the bowling pin into two half segments; selecting wood slab means having a density less than that of said salva-ble bowling pin; cementing said half segments, oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of said Wood slab to form a partially laterally expanded rough pin unit; dividing said unit along the longitudinal axis of the unit, on a plane at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two half segments; selecting second Wood slab means having a density less than that of said salvable bowling pin; cementing said last mentioned half segments, oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of said second wood slab to form a fully laterally expanded rough pin structure; and trimming away excess outer portions of said structure to form a reconstructed bowling pin of standard size and shape, said trimming being conducted to form a portion of said plug and slabs into said reconstructed pin.

4. A method of reconstructing a salvable bowling pin, comprising the steps of: dividing a salvable bowling pin longitudinally into two symmetric half segments; mounting said segments, oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of wood slab means, to form a partially laterally expanded rough pin unit; dividing said unit longitudinally, along a plane at an angle at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two symmetric half segments; mounting said last mentioned segments, oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of second wood slab means to form a fully laterally expanded rough pin structure; recessing an end of said structure including the segments, substantially axially thereof; cementing a plug in said recess; and trimming away excess outer portions of said structure to form a reconstructed bowling pin of standard size and shape, said trimming locating said reconstructed pin, in said structure and plug, axially of the salvable pin segments, thereby embodying a portion of said plug and slabs in an end of said reconstructed pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,197,649 Miller Sept. 12, 1916 2,395,134 McKenzie Feb. 19, 1946 2,483,568 Waite Oct. 4, 1949 2,634,774 Francar Apr. 14, 1953 2,681,672 Maly June 22, 1954 

